Safety razor



Oct. 1, 1929. R. W.,GREGSONI SAFETY RAZOR Filed Oct. 3, 1927 Patented Oct. 1, P529 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" ROBERT w. GREGSON, or PITTSBUR H, PENNSYLVANIA' SAFETY RAZOR to accomplish a smooth shave without the.

use of water, soap, shaving soap or cream, or any other shaving preparations, thereby eliminating the cost of these toilet accessories as well as effecting a substantial saving of time.

-Another object of my invention is the provision of a safety razor which is adapted to shear ofi the hair between two relatively moving cutters instead of shaving it off in the usual manner with a single cutter, thereby accomplishing a smoother shave without deleteriously affecting the skin:

Another object of my invention is" the provision of a safety razor comprising a rotating cutter having helical cutting edges and a thin blade tangentially disposed relative to said cutter to effect a shearing action therewith.

Another object of my invention is the provision'of a safety razor of the class described embodying an actuated motor, shearingmeans, and means for cooling said motor and removing the hair from the vicinity of said shearingmieans.

' Another object of my invention is the provision of an automatic safety razor which'is adapted to effect asmooth and close shave without any danger\ of cutting the user and without removingfthe outer protective layers of skin.'

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully from the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar the several views.

In the draw1ngs:

parts throughout razor.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a medial cross sectional view I commutator 25. Fig. l'is asideele'vation of my safety.

, Application filed October 3, 1927. Serial No. 223,521.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the lines 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View of the stationary blade.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, 10 indicates in its entirety my safety razor which is prefer- .abl'y enclosed in a casing indicated in its entirety at 11. The casing 11 may consist of three parts, namely the cutter housing 12, cylindrical member 13, and cover 14,

'whichvwill be described in detail hereinafter.

The operating parts of the razor comprise a pair of relatively movable cutters, which may consists of a relatively thin blade 15 and a rotatable cutter 16. The rotatable cutter 16 is preferably actuated by an electric motor indicated in its entirety at 17, and preferablyincased in the cylindrical part 13 of the casing, which. also forms a handle, and the device is provided with a speed reducing mechanism connecting the motor and said rotatable cutter and indicated in its entirety at 18 The motor 17 is here illustrated diagrammatically and may consist of any type of electric motor adapted to actuate the rotatable cutter 16 at the proper rate of speed. The motor 17 is preferably a motor of the universal type which maybe used both upon alternating and direct current in order to facilitate the use of the razor under all conditions. 7

As illustrated in the present embodiment .the motor may comprise a shaft 18, fixedly supporting an armature 19, carrying the customary coils 20; and the shaft 18 is 'rotatably carried by bearings 21 and 22 formed in the cutter housing and cover respectively. The cylindrical portion 13 of. the casing may support the usual laminated core' '23 for the field poles, carrying the coils 24, and the shaft 1 8 is provided with the conventional The commutator brushes 26? may be cylin, drical-sticks of carbon sl'idably supported in I the metal tubes 27 which are insulated from the casing by a bushing 28 of insulating toward the commutator by a spring 29, ad

justably supported in the tube 27 by a screw 30 having the usual kerf.

The foregoing motor parts are illustrated in the conventional manner and may beradially located relative to the bearing 22 toserve as supports for the brushes 26. The cover 14 is also provided with a bore 32 lined with an insulating bushing 33 to permit passage of the insulated wires 34 leading from the lIlOtOItO the source of electrical power. v

The opposite end of the cover 14 is preferably formed with a turned down portion 35 of substantially cylindrical form but slightly tapered toward its outer end, also forming an annular shoulder 36. The opposed end of the cutter housing 12 may also be formed with a reduced cylindrical portion 37, slightly tapered toward its end and forming an annular shoulder 38. The motor casing 11 may then be assembled by providing the cylindrical member 13 of such size that its ends have a very tight fit upon the cylindrical portions 35 and 37, these parts being pressed tov gether by an arbor press or a hydraulic press in such manner that they are permanently retained' in assembled position by frictional forces. This method of assembly provides a smooth external surface and requires no screws or other fastening means and the motor cannot be taken apart or otherwise tampered with except by the use of appropriate machinery.

The cutter housing 12 comprises a hollow cast metal member which may be of substantially cylindrical shape upon its end 39, the

opposite end 40 being formed like a second cylinder having its axis at right angles to the first. The cylinder 40 isprovided at its juncture'with the cylinder 39 with: a bearing 21 for the shaft 18, axially located relative to the cylinder '40 and supported by a' wall 41 and a plurality of webs 42.

The space between the wall 41 and the webs 42 provides a conduit about. the bearing 21 for the passage of cooling air to the motor 17. Between the webs 42 are a plurality of radial openings 43 providing access between the conduit and the interior of the motor casing. The cover 14 is also provided with a plurality of openings 44 for the exit of the cooling air and if the airgap does not provide sufficient space for passage-of air, ventilating openings may be provided within or between the cores 23 of the field magnets.

Referring to Fig. 5 it will be observed that the wall 41 does not extend the full distance across the cylinder 39 but terminates at 45, forming an opening 46 for the reception of a filter bag 47. The filter bag 47 may consist ofa closely woven fabric bag reinforced with a metallic ring at its open end and adapted .to permit the passage of air while retaining the hair therein. The exterior wall 48 of the cylinder 39 may be provided with an aperture 49 of suflicient size to pass the filter bag 47 having a resilient sheet metal cover 50 pivotally supported at 51 for sliding movement relative to the opening 49. The depression 52 formed in the sheet metal cover 50 snaps into the aperture 49 to retain the cover in close position.

The cutter housing 12 may be formed with one end wall 48 cast integrally therewith and having a substantially circular aperture 53 formed in the opposite end of the cylinder. The aperture 53 may be closed by a plate 54 having a reduced portion 55 adapted to lit in the aperture 53 and a flange 56 adapted to lie upon the cylindrical wall 39. The cutter housing 12 is preferably formed with an opening in its cylindrical wall 39 extending from the point- 57 adjacent'the fixed blade support to the point. 58 at the opposite side of the rotatable cutter 16. the aperture being closed by the guard 59 and blade 15, with the exception of a relatively small slot 60 (Fig. 2).

The rotatable cutter 16 may comprise a;

erably helical in form and arethereby adanted to provide sliding, shearing action relative to-the fixed blade 15. The rotatable cutter 16 mav be provided with integral trunnions 62' at each end, adapted to be received in aligned bearings 63 formed in the end wall 58 and cover plate 54. The cutter is also provided with a gear wheel 64 keyed to the trunion 62 or otherwise permanently affixed to the cutter.

The lower portion 65 of the cylindrical member 39 of the casing is preferably tapered to a relatively sharp edge terminating adjacent the cutter 16 but out of contact therewith and performing the function of a guard which covers the rotatable cutter 16 exceptat the slot 60. At the opposite side of the cutter there may be provided a support 66 for the blade 15, comprising a metal member adapted to fit between the cover plate 54at one end and the wall 48 at the other end, be-

ing secured by a plurality'of screws 67 The blade support 66 has a curved outer surface 68 terminating in a thin edge 69 adjacent the I cutter member 16 but out of contact therewith,

the blade is substantially tangential to the cylinder generated by the cutting edges-61, the blade and-cutting edges being in resilient contact at the edge 73 within the slot 60. A slight range of adjustment for the blade relative to the cutting member 16 may be provided by slots 74 for one or the other of the screws 67. The blade 15 is preferably held. in position upon its support 66 by a second guard 59 having an inner curved surface 7 5 adapted to fit against said blade and an outer curved surface 76 conforming to the curvature of the casing. The guard 59 is pivotally supported in the casing by a conventional hinge 76 formed by a pin 77 secured in the ends of the casing at 78 and a spring 79 may be pivotally secured upon the casing by a rivet 80 to hold the guard 59 against the blade 15. It will be evident that the spring 79 may be pivoted to one side when it is desired to re move the guard 59 and blade 15, the blade being clamped between the guard 59 and the blade supporting member 66 by means of I the spring'79.

In order to actuate the rotatable cutter the device may be provided with speed reducingv mechanism comprising a screw 81 keyed to I the end of the shaft 18 and adapted to actuate a worm gear 82 secured on the shaft 83. The shaft 83 may likewise be provided with bearings 84 formed on the interior of the wall 48 and by an aperture in the cover plate 54, and the shaft may be provided with a pinion 85 meshing with the gear-wheel 64 on the rotatable cutter 16. The shaft 18 is also provided with a small fan 86 preferably of sheet metal and secured to the shaft just inside the casing adjacent the webs 42.

- The operation of my safety razor is as fol-' lows. ,.When the electric current is turned on by means of a switch which may be located in the casing 11 or elsewhere, the motor 17 I, 85 and gear 84, rotating the cutter member 16 at a much lower rate of speed than that of the inherentlv high speed motor.

The rotatable cutter 16 will have its edges 61 in constant shearing contact with the razor edge 73 of the blade 15 and the constant honing action will keep the blade and edges in a highly sharp condition. .At-the same time the relatively thin edge of the razor blade 15 will permit the cutting edges to come into close contact with the face so that the edges 61 may shear off thebeard or hair at the point where it emerges fromthe skin, giving a very close shave.

The fan 86 will create a current of air through the motor casing emergingfrom the apertures 44 in the cover 14 and causing a suction through the apertu-res 43, filter bag 47 and interior of the cutter housing 12. As the casing is closed except at the slot 60, there will be a constant influx of air at the slot 60, blowing the hair away from the cutters, maintaining them in clean condition and this hair will be carried with the current of air to the filter bag 47 where the hair will be retained, the air passing onward to cool the electric motor.

It will thus be observed that I have invented a. safety razor which is adapted to be actuated by automatic power in which two relatively movable cutting members are prov the like, and actually. the shave so effected may be closer than that produced by an ordinary razor because the hair issheared from both sides rather than slashed off at an angle as is the case with the ordinary razor.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of my invention, many changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a safety razor, the combination'of a casing'with a cutter revolubly mounted in said casing, a second cutter supported in shearing relation to said first mentioned cutter, an electric motor, air propelling means actuated by said motor to remove hair from the vicinity of said cutters and to cool said motor, and a hair filtering receptacle interposed between said cutters and said motor.

2. In a safety razor, the combination of a tubular casing. member with an electric motor, end members for said tubular casing member frictionally fitted into said'tubular casing member, and cutting means mounted in one of said end members, and operatively connected with said motor.

3. In a safety razor, the combination of a tubular casing member with an electric motor, end members for said tubular casing member vfrictionally fitted into said tubular casing member, a bearing provided in each end member to receive the armature shaft of said motor, and cutting means mounted in one of said end members and operatively said casing and actuated by said motor to reconnected with said motor.

4. In a safety razor, the combination of a tubular casing member with an electric motor, end members for said tubular casing member frictionally fitted into said tubular casing member, a bearing provided in each end member to receive the armature shaft of said motor, one of said end members carrying brushes for said motor and cutting means mounted in the other end member and 0peratively connected with said motor.

5. In a safety razor, the combination of a casing with cutting means mounted in said casing, an electric motor, air propelling means-actuated by said motor to remove hair from the vicinity of said cutting means, and a hair filtering receptacle interposed between said cutting means and said motor.

6. In a safety razor, the combination of a casing with an electric motor in said casing, cutting means mounted in one end of said casing, a wall disposed between said cuttingmeans and said motor provided with an aperture, air propelling means disposed Within said casing and'actuated by said motor to remove hair from said cutting means in a di rection toward said aperture, a hair filtering receptacle mounted in said aperture, and operative connections between said cutting means and said motor.

7 In a safety razor, the combination of a casing with an electric motor in said casing, cutting means mounted in one end of said casing, a wall disposed between said cutting means and said motor provided with an aperture, air propelling means disposed within movehair from said cutting means in a dire'ctiontoward said aperture, a hair filtering receptacle mounted in said aperture, a cover plate carried by said casing adjacent said filter, and operative connections between said I cutting means and said motor.

8. In a safety razor, the combination of a casing with an electric motor mounted'in said casing, a screw gear carried by said motor, a revoluble cutter transversely mounted in one end of said casing, a second cutter disposedin shearing relation to said first mentioned cutter, a gear carried by said first mentioned cutter, a shaft transversely mounted in said casing end, a pinion gear mounted on said shaft and meshing with said gear 7 carried by said first mentioned cutter, and a worm gear on said shaftmeshing with said screw gear. a r

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of September, 1927.

ROBERT. W. GREGSON, 

